Golden
Two Rapunzels
Golden puts a very different change in Rapunzel compared to the other appropriations, it utilises two rapunzels. One, Rapunzel, has the backstory we all know, she was given to Melisande by her parents as payment for stolen Rapunzel. However unlike the original tale in Golden Rapunzel is completely bald. Melisande’s biological daughter, whose real name is unknown but is just called Rue, has long golden hair and is cursed to stay in a tower with one window in the woods. Having two daughters, one biological and one adopted brings up many conflicts and also many themes that are unique to this adaptation.
How did the girls end up with Melisande?
Rue is Melisande’s biological daughter and so has been with her most of her life. Rapunzel came to Melisande through the events of the original tale with a slight change. Her parents were foolish and afraid of the sorceress and so made the decision to steal the Rapunzel rather than ask for it, (because stealing from a powerful sorceress is much safer than confronting your fear and asking her apparently) Melisande was far more sympathetic than she could have been and makes a deal with the mother to be. If the mother can love her child the moment it is born she can keep it, if she cannot Melisande will take the baby. As it is Rapunzel is born bald and her mother cannot love her, she goes with Melisande, who promises the father she will make a place in her heart for Rapunzel.
How is Rapunzel’s childhood portrayed?
Rapunzel’s childhood is shown through a brief passage by Rapunzel where she speaks of the things she learnt while living with Melisande, and through this Melisande is shown to be a loving, attentive mother who helps Rapunzel grow. The scene in the village where Rapunzel is shunned for her lack of hair and Melisande defends her and humbles the villagers is also powerful because it shows that she is as protective of Rapunzel as he would be of her own daughter.
How does Melisande speak and act towards Rapunzel?
Unlike other tales, where the mother gothel figure raises the child as her own and raises the child to believe she is its mother Melisande insists Rapunzel call her by her name. This is also an indicator that Melisande is a departure from the typical Mother Gothel’s and is not the villain of the story. Melisande treats Rapunzel as an equal and while she is protective towards her she also allows her to be independent and grow as a person. The focus of their relationship seems to be on mutual trust, support and love. Melisande does not trap Rapunzel in any way, she isn't condescending but rather teaches, she doesn't lie and lets Rapunzel know when she is keeping a secret. She is also accepting and this can add humour to the tale, like when Rapunzel attempts to weed and pulls out all the carrots.
Why is Rue locked up?
In this Melisande is again blameless, the Golden backstory has a wizard cursing her for not using her gift of sight when she should have. The aim of this was to take her power from her from a short amount of time, however the one thing Melisande loves more than life and power itself was her daughter and so Rue was imprisoned in a kind of limbo state in a tower and her hair grew magically long due to the curse. In her all encompassing love for her daughter Melisande has a similarity to Mother in Zel, however beyond that her portrayal is completely different from the other appropriations. Melisande also acts in a completely opposite fashion to other versions, instead of seeking to keep Rue imprisoned she seeks to find someone who can break the curse.
Does Melisande have any regrets?
Melisande has not really done anything wrong, but she has many regrets anyway. She regrets the simple mistake that caused her to lose her daughter and she regrets not telling Rapunzel sooner about Rue. She also regrets the rift that comes between the two daughters.
What are the actions and attitudes of Rapunzel’s parents?
Rapunzel’s father is a good person who chooses not to give up on his daughter and reenters her life as a friend and adoptive father of her love interest. He does not want to give her up at the start of the novel, it is Rapunzel’s mother who upholds the selfish parent of the original fairy tale. Rapunzel’s mother was a very vain, selfish person who values her hair above anything else. Her lack of having a place in her heart for a daughter who wasn’t exactly like her causes her to immediately reject Rapunzel. She chooses to value hair over a daughter and that cements Rapunzel’s baldness.
Which parent is portrayed as better?
Melisande and the father are shown as being good parental figures because they don’t give up on Rapunzel and Rue and love them even though it is difficult. One of the main themes in Golden is making a place in your heart for people. Melisande makes a place in her heart for Rapunzel even though she still loves Rue. Rue and Alexander make places in their hearts for each other, the tinker makes a place in his heart for Harry even though he still loves his daughter, Rapunzel. The story of the princess who married the prince and asked for a room where she could be loved, but in fact was speaking of a room in his heart is a powerful metaphor for the relationships between the main characters. In terms of what makes a family Golden’s message is that anyone can be a family, it is about who you make room for in your heart and love them and never give up on them.
Golden puts a very different change in Rapunzel compared to the other appropriations, it utilises two rapunzels. One, Rapunzel, has the backstory we all know, she was given to Melisande by her parents as payment for stolen Rapunzel. However unlike the original tale in Golden Rapunzel is completely bald. Melisande’s biological daughter, whose real name is unknown but is just called Rue, has long golden hair and is cursed to stay in a tower with one window in the woods. Having two daughters, one biological and one adopted brings up many conflicts and also many themes that are unique to this adaptation.
How did the girls end up with Melisande?
Rue is Melisande’s biological daughter and so has been with her most of her life. Rapunzel came to Melisande through the events of the original tale with a slight change. Her parents were foolish and afraid of the sorceress and so made the decision to steal the Rapunzel rather than ask for it, (because stealing from a powerful sorceress is much safer than confronting your fear and asking her apparently) Melisande was far more sympathetic than she could have been and makes a deal with the mother to be. If the mother can love her child the moment it is born she can keep it, if she cannot Melisande will take the baby. As it is Rapunzel is born bald and her mother cannot love her, she goes with Melisande, who promises the father she will make a place in her heart for Rapunzel.
How is Rapunzel’s childhood portrayed?
Rapunzel’s childhood is shown through a brief passage by Rapunzel where she speaks of the things she learnt while living with Melisande, and through this Melisande is shown to be a loving, attentive mother who helps Rapunzel grow. The scene in the village where Rapunzel is shunned for her lack of hair and Melisande defends her and humbles the villagers is also powerful because it shows that she is as protective of Rapunzel as he would be of her own daughter.
How does Melisande speak and act towards Rapunzel?
Unlike other tales, where the mother gothel figure raises the child as her own and raises the child to believe she is its mother Melisande insists Rapunzel call her by her name. This is also an indicator that Melisande is a departure from the typical Mother Gothel’s and is not the villain of the story. Melisande treats Rapunzel as an equal and while she is protective towards her she also allows her to be independent and grow as a person. The focus of their relationship seems to be on mutual trust, support and love. Melisande does not trap Rapunzel in any way, she isn't condescending but rather teaches, she doesn't lie and lets Rapunzel know when she is keeping a secret. She is also accepting and this can add humour to the tale, like when Rapunzel attempts to weed and pulls out all the carrots.
Why is Rue locked up?
In this Melisande is again blameless, the Golden backstory has a wizard cursing her for not using her gift of sight when she should have. The aim of this was to take her power from her from a short amount of time, however the one thing Melisande loves more than life and power itself was her daughter and so Rue was imprisoned in a kind of limbo state in a tower and her hair grew magically long due to the curse. In her all encompassing love for her daughter Melisande has a similarity to Mother in Zel, however beyond that her portrayal is completely different from the other appropriations. Melisande also acts in a completely opposite fashion to other versions, instead of seeking to keep Rue imprisoned she seeks to find someone who can break the curse.
Does Melisande have any regrets?
Melisande has not really done anything wrong, but she has many regrets anyway. She regrets the simple mistake that caused her to lose her daughter and she regrets not telling Rapunzel sooner about Rue. She also regrets the rift that comes between the two daughters.
What are the actions and attitudes of Rapunzel’s parents?
Rapunzel’s father is a good person who chooses not to give up on his daughter and reenters her life as a friend and adoptive father of her love interest. He does not want to give her up at the start of the novel, it is Rapunzel’s mother who upholds the selfish parent of the original fairy tale. Rapunzel’s mother was a very vain, selfish person who values her hair above anything else. Her lack of having a place in her heart for a daughter who wasn’t exactly like her causes her to immediately reject Rapunzel. She chooses to value hair over a daughter and that cements Rapunzel’s baldness.
Which parent is portrayed as better?
Melisande and the father are shown as being good parental figures because they don’t give up on Rapunzel and Rue and love them even though it is difficult. One of the main themes in Golden is making a place in your heart for people. Melisande makes a place in her heart for Rapunzel even though she still loves Rue. Rue and Alexander make places in their hearts for each other, the tinker makes a place in his heart for Harry even though he still loves his daughter, Rapunzel. The story of the princess who married the prince and asked for a room where she could be loved, but in fact was speaking of a room in his heart is a powerful metaphor for the relationships between the main characters. In terms of what makes a family Golden’s message is that anyone can be a family, it is about who you make room for in your heart and love them and never give up on them.